The Col de l'Auriasque return via Esquine and Boson

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A pleasant little circuit in the Mediterranean forest.

Details

n°57596
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.47 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 219 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 215 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 223 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 36 m
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Photos

Start of the Auriasque l'Esquine Boson circuit
L'Esquine trail H79

Description of the walk

Head towards the Malpasset Dam. Park in the first car park (before the dam). See the photo for a better idea of where to go.

(S/E) Departure: Route Forestière de L'Auriasque H78.

(1) About 10 minutes from the start, at thefirst fork, turn right onto Chemin d'Auriasque, leaving the Boson forest road on your left.

(2) After about 2 km, at another fork, at the FRJ21 cistern, continue right (L'Auriasque). You will now pass the sign for "La Forêt des Enfants".

(3) When you reach the FRJ14 cistern, turn left onto the H79 track, "Piste de l'Esquine". This downhill track passes in front of a ruin.

(4) At the FRJ6 cistern, turn left at the intersection onto "Route Forestière du Balcon de l'Esquine" and you will rejoin theGR®51.

(5) At the next intersection at the sign for "piste H88 "Route du Boson", turn left.
You are now leaving theGR®51. Continue and you will arrive at the shared section (the short stretch of track already taken at the start of track H78 "L'Auriasque").

(1) Now, to finish, turn right onto the track that takes you back to the start of this circuit (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 36 m - Parking: Forestière de L'Auriasque H78
  2. 1 : km 0.8 - alt. 62 m - Turn right onto "Chemin d'Auriasque"
  3. 2 : km 2.2 - alt. 138 m - At the FRJ21 cistern, continue to the right
  4. 3 : km 4.65 - alt. 187 m - When you reach the FRJ14 cistern, turn left - Col d'Auriasque (201m)
  5. 4 : km 6.44 - alt. 173 m - At the FRJ6 cistern, turn left
  6. 5 : km 7.23 - alt. 79 m - Sign for "piste H88 "Route du Boson" on the left
  7. S/E : km 9.47 - alt. 36 m - Parking

Notes

Easy hike.
Standard sports shoes are sufficient.

Worth a visit

Nearby, continue a little further after crossing the ford.
You can visit the remains of the Malpasset dam disaster.

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 28 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
Emmanuel Nice
Emmanuel Nice

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy and enjoyable route.
There are a few sections, particularly towards the end, where you can hear the motorway, but it doesn't last long.

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plum06
plum06

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hike completed in 3 hours without rushing, on a track suitable for vehicles throughout. We encountered two vehicles despite this. The track signage has been changed and the numbers no longer correspond to those indicated in the description.

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georgina06
georgina06

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

it's always a pleasure to hike in the Esterel. Thank you for sharing

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georgina06
georgina06

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

On that day, the start and finish of the circuit were very busy due to a sporting event (11 November). Thank you for sharing.

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Paml68
Paml68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A leisurely 2½-hour walk. No difficulty. Beautiful scenery over the Estérel and the Maures. However, the noise from the motorway detracts a little from the tranquillity of the landscape, although you do get used to it after a while.

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Loiseau bleu
Loiseau bleu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done on 8/09/2023 with friends.
Beautiful panoramic views and tranquillity in this otherwise very busy region

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JEEP 83
JEEP 83

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a beautiful hike that I highly recommend

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Alban06
Alban06

In fact, I just followed the GPS track of the person who organised this hike. In total, my GPS shows 7 km, and without being particularly athletic, an average speed of 3.5 km/h is normal, even cool. Well, the main thing is not to be late for lockdown... and that's not a very glorious goal 😁😁😁

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Patanegra
Patanegra

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We followed the directions but they are not entirely accurate:
At point 2, it says: at the FRJ 21 cistern, continue to the right (L'Auriasque). On the right, it says LE FORT. L'Auriasque seems to be on the left of the cistern. The route does pass through LE FORT.
We cannot find the children's forest sign on this section!
At point 3, you actually go back down to the FRJ 14 cistern via the Auriasque car park. This is where you realise that you haven't followed the Auriasque. If you go back up the hill, you will find the H 79 track, Piste de l'Esquine, on your left.
Same comment as DEBELLY
We covered 9.9 km in 3 hours. It is preferable that the time indicated be longer than the actual time. A family cannot do it in 1 hour 40 minutes like the athlete Alban06, who only covered 7.13 km!

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Alban06
Alban06

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Walking at a normal pace, it took me 1 hour and 40 minutes, not 3 hours and 25 minutes as stated by the creator (to cover 7.13 km). Breaks for refreshments or sandwiches should not be included in the time taken!

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ckitelle
ckitelle

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

No interest in this hike, which takes place in full sun throughout the entire route. Very little shade, view and noise from the motorway 80% of the way. Better suited to mountain biking.

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dragoniere
dragoniere

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, peaceful ride, about 12 km according to my GPS...beautiful views of the Estérel, the Argens plain and the upper Var. It's a shame that there is some background noise from the motorway in certain places. Be careful at point 3: "at the FRJ6 cistern, turn right and not left", but it's easy to correct with the map.

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Stéphanie06
Stéphanie06

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

very pretty, fairly easy hike; however, it took two hours at a pace of 4.6 km/h, which is a good pace but not strenuous. Very pleasant trail, easy for families

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jmnpapy
jmnpapy

hike not completed.

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paquitta10
paquitta10

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

very pleasant hike to get back into shape, beautiful panoramic views

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.